Christmas Tree Ideas

WE decorated many trees for our 2018 Open House and I thought I'd feature

a few of them here for some ideas of what to do with our 

fabulous collection of holiday ornaments.

WE are obsessed with black and white checks this year! 

The ribbon was purchased at Hobby Lobby, 

https://www.hobbylobby.com/search/?text=Black+%26+White+check+ribbon.

 WE tied a big bow at the top using one of our ornaments as a tree topper.

 Then cut lengths to go down the tree in tendrils. The wired ribbon

 makes this so easy!

 Then WE added some red, silver, white and black ornaments to complete this look.

WE did our vintage look metallic brown tree (actually dark green) in all silvers and golds.

 WE chose ornaments with sweet vintage flair. Every tree needs a few

matte finish ornaments with all the shiny delights! 

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is Silver and the other Gold."

WE have always decorated a tree in all Santas and this year 

WE continued the tradition.

WE have Santa and Belsnickel ornaments in many forms and price points. Always a fun

 tree and great with red or white lights (or both). Start a collection for a 

friend or loved one by gifting them with a new one each year.

WE know it is early for Christmas decor but dreaming and 

planning or a fabulous holiday is half the fun.

Enjoy each moment!

Melin

xoxo

Holiday Speed Decorating with Cedar

My husband is laid up from surgery on his arm and was not able to trim a few 

pine  branches from our yard, so I took matters into my own 

hands and bought this garland at Costco for $15.99!

I used clippers, floral cutters and scissors to tear it apart. It was so well built.

I deconstructed it on our kitchen island, which was a mess but warmer and sweep-able (is that a word). I want to share with you the ways I used the one garland in and around my Christmas decor.

I started a few tins, both new and vintage, I had, added the cedar and in most

 all examples I added faux  or real flowers, berries, glass balls and pine cones.

These are two vintage scoops we collected and set on the hearth.

I added a few sprigs, here there and everywhere!

Here are two on top of an antique frame.

Some were used "as is" in garland form. 

I even added some to our old sled that holds wet boots!

Then I added the what was left to the porch.

We added a buggy seat to our old red wagon and put a few faux tress

 in the middle,  then added the cedar casually around it.

I think you will have fun with this simple project and a 

big plus is the fresh scent it imparts.

Happy Holidays,

Melin

xoxo

Wren Elizabeth Gifts: Ornament Treasures

Wren Elizabeth Gifts: Ornament Treasures: I get so caught up in the holiday decorating that it seems there is no time to blog. I thought I would at least share a few more of my fa...

Ornament Treasures

I get so caught up in the holiday decorating that it seems there is no time to blog. I thought I would at least share a few more of my family treasures. These ornaments have been a part of most every Christmas. 

These are an assortment of vintage beauties displayed in my milk glass collection.

The flying goose was my Momma's. His wings are made of real feathers that "fly" when moved

 up and down. The little figure's head is a bit wobbly after all these years.

These two mischievous ceramic squirrels clip to the branches.

 Santa loves to do a few deliveries from this celluloid car!

The Shiny Brites above are mid century and well loved.

A collection of random retros. The clear striped on was from my Granny's tree.

Just a couple more cuties. Mom loved the drippy icicles and now I really do too. They give

 a tree that dreamy look. The ornament on the left was a flea find!

Do you have any family treasures on your tree? Share them with us on Facebook

 or Pinterest and tell us their stories here in the comments.

Now, back to decorating.

Melin

Christmas Tree Ideas!

WE are in full preparation for our big Open House, the first weekend in October, at Wren Elizabeth Gifts and I thought I would share more of our decorated trees. See my last post for one more.

This tree is full of beautifully crafted vintage look ornaments.

 



 

A soft shell theme mini tree with mercury glass ornaments and real shells.

 

 

This fun retro tree takes me back to a time of the mid century innocence.

 

A sweet pastel tree that is perfect in a bedroom or bath!

 

 

This one is a bough that I decorated in a nature theme.

These trees are like children, each is unique, and I can't pick a favorite.

Hope you will be inspired for your holiday decorating!

Melin



Look What I did today!

 

I am blessed to have one of the best jobs in

the world...doing what I LOVE!

 

 

I got to decorate for Christmas in preparation for our big Wren

Elizabeth Gifts Open House, the first weekend in October.

I love all these new elf and nature ornaments!

 

 

Still love the box signs too. They share, with your friends, what

you are thinking during the holidays, funny or sentimental.

I have to tell you I listened to Christmas music while working too. :)

Tonight, I'll be singing holiday music in preperation for our Community Chorus' holiday

concert. Just can't get enough of the holiday spirit, even this early.

Melin



Retro Christmas

 

  I love everything retro because they remind me of my childhood. Funny thing is I love things that are even older than I am. I know that is true of many of us after checking out Pinterest.
My favorite retro items are the holiday treats, especially those from Christmas! The items above are fun ceramics, mostly made in Japan. The Santa bank in the back was a give-away from a bank and my Daddy brought it home for me. 

 These angels were a gift from my dear friend, Madeline Schaaf. They sit atop our bathroom mirrors to decorate for the holidays.

The little ceramic angel ornament my "birth angel". She has a pink faded ribbon to tell her apart from my sister's blue ribbon. They were always the always our most special ornaments and still are to this day. I hang her and reminisce each year. Just ask my friends and family.

The blow mold Santa on the right is a special find from traveling last summer in the North West. I didn't pay much for him but oh how he brightens up our hearth!

 

The little hot pink elf has been a treasure as long as I can remember. He sits atop a little white Christmas tree in our bathroom. I like the greens and pinks in there year round.

 

Old ceramic clip on Santa ornaments from my childhood tree. I am missing one of the originals.

 

 

I love this old felt Santa card holder from a dear old friend who passed.

It is living on with us as she does in our hearts!

 

Wishing you a Happy Christmas surrounded by the people (and things) that you love! 

Melin

Advent Season

The season of Advent was created by German Lutheran's to celebrate the days preceding the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus. We have broadened this observation to count down the days leading to Christmas in the anticipation of Christ's birth or Santa's coming or both.

The calendars used to mark advent come in so many varieties. There are the ones with pockets that adults can fill with daily surprises for the little ones. Love notes here are there are fun too.

 

There are the chocolate filled cardboard variety that are found most everywhere now with a treat behind every window. I love the old simple and beautiful German or Danish paper type with perforated "windows" you open each day with a surprise image and sparkles. They are usually glittered...love that! 

 

So many types from which to choose. You can use the metal ones above year after year and simply move the magnet forward each day with excitement as Christmas draws nearer. If you are crafty, check out Pinterest at this link, http://pinterest.com/search/?q=advent+calendars. They have so many ideas. I do love the idea of stringing mittens or hats too. I want to collect some with that in mind, since I don't knit. You place a treat inside the (upside down) mitten or hat. It's a great way to recycle some great thrift store finds.  

I still have an old worn out folded 3-D pop-up version from my childhood. We often were gifted with the chocolate versions but HAD to open the doors of the old "Christmas House".

Enjoy your advent season!

Melin

PS ~ I took my grand-daughter to two of the free make-it sessions at Michael's from my last blog. We both had a great time! Cheers to these companies that support our families like that. I love the encouragement of celebrating holidays in simple ways.

Holiday Workshops

 

The holiday season is a perfect time to learn something new! We all want a bit of help coming up with new ideas for decorating our homes for the holidays and our local craft and home improvement stores are eager to help us. I did a bit of searching this morning and thought I would share what I discovered. You will need to go to the websites and enter in your local store for their schedule.

 

The Home Depot has Do-It-Herself classes that sound fun. The class near me is Thurs. 11/15 from 6:30-8 pm and it will teach, Christmas Décor• Build an interior two-tiered wreath chandelier• Build a wreath duo for an exterior door• Build an exterior lighted snowflake• Create “hand crafted” holiday décor accents.

They also have free kid's workshops on the first Saturday of every month for 5-12 year olds from 9-noon.  Here is a link, http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_DIHWorkshops&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053.

 

Michael's has a full schedule of workshops, http://www.michaels.com/Store-Events/store-events,default,pg.html. This Sunday, 11/11/12, they have a free holiday ornament event from 1-3 for kids 3 and up (while supplies last). There are many great holiday events for kids and adults, some are free and some have fees. You can learn more about new crafts that you haven't tried yet.

They also have a great video library at http://www.michaels.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Michaels-Site/default/Search-ShowContent?fdid=videos-christmas. This one is about wreaths!

 

 

 

Jo-Ann Crafts have free demos on Saturdays. Call or check your local store for details.They offer many for fee classes for kids and adults all year long. They host birthday parties, as does Michael's.

 

Lowe's has great ideas on their website at http://www.lowes.com/Home-Decor/Holiday-Decorations/_/N-1z0ycu4/pl. Look at the bottom for links to Tis The Season and Holiday Articles.

For the kids they have free Build & Grow classes every other Saturday from 10-11 am. You need to pre-register for these classes online.  On 11/17, you will build North's sleigh, 12/1 Sandman's plane, 12/8 is a Gingerbread House. Register early as the classes do fill up.

 

Preparing for the holiday season has begun for most of us. It is a creative time for getting our idea juices flowing. What new ideas have you been thinking about? Please them share with all of us here. 

Enjoy each creative moment!

Melin